M'ville students place in Firelands Audubon Society art contest

MONROEVILLE — Art teacher Laurie Replogle considers it important for her students to “work outside of the classroom too.”

That’s why she offered her students at Monroeville Local Schools the opportunity to participate in the 2018 Firelands Audubon Society art contest. It was eligible for students in kindergarten through 12th grade who are attending public, private or home schools in Huron or Erie counties.

“It’s great for them to be involved and do something outside of the classroom,” Replogle said. “If it’s something they’re really interested in, they will get involved.”

Students from Edison, Huron, Margaretta, Monroeville and Perkins participated in the contest, now in its eighth year.

Four Monroeville students placed in the competition that had 288 entries. There were several grade groups: Kindergarten through third grade, four through six, seven and eight; and finally, ninth through 12th grades.

Eighth-grader Rachel Herner placed second in her division.

“She has entered the contest several times. She has won in the elementary (school) category and in the junior high,” Replogle said.

Herner drew a woodpecker using colored pencils.

“That is an Art II media, so I think she did really well,” said her teacher, who appreciated the student’s blending, shading and layering.

Herner’s older brother, Ellis, a sophomore, used colored pencils to make a songbird.

“His class just started using colored pencils,” said Replogle, who likes the sense of depth in the branch on which the bird sits. “It looks real and three-dimensional.”

Freshman Callie Rosser received honorable mention for an owl she drew out of graphite.

“I like the depth. When you look at the eyes, they sparkle,” Replogle said.

Junior Rudy Replogle received the honor of best in show for an owl he drew using colored pencils and pastel. His mother — also his teacher — highlighted the proportions of the owl and details in the feathers.

Samuel Littlejohn, also a junior, received second place for an owl he drew from colored pencils, which he has been using a lot lately.

“I plan to get into other mediums later on,” said the son of Steven and Karen.

Littlejohn said he likes the blending, layering and “fine details” he achieved, noting he likes challenging himself. The drawing took him about seven hours to complete.

“I tried to get as many details in my owl as possible,” Littlejohn said. “On Google, I tried to find the perfect photograph to use. I wanted to find a photograph that had the entire owl because the owl is complex.”

The most challenging part was drawing the striped feathers and the body markings.

“I started with the head. Just as soon as I finished the head, I thought, ‘This is going to be pretty cool,’” Littlejohn said.